Improvement in water-meters



2 Sheets-Sheet 2. H. L. ARNOLD.

4 WATER METER. No. 185,010.

Patentled D ec.5,1876.

THE GRAPHIC O.N.Y

Nr'rnn AStratrris PATENT FFIoE.

HORACE L. ARNOLD, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR. OF ONE- HALF HIS RIGHT TO WM. H. POWERS, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN WATER-METERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 185,010, dated December 5, 1876; application led October 2, 1876.

, To all whom it 'may concern:

Be it known that I, HORACE L. AROLD, of Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Water-Meters;v

andI do hereby declare that the following specification, taken in connection with the drawings furnished and forming a part of the same, is a clear, true, and complete description thereof.

`expensive to enable them to enter into general use.

The. prime object of most 'of the novel features herein described is the economic production of meters of the class referred to, meantime increasing their accuracyfor measuring, their ease in operation, and their general durability.

Inasmnch as no balance wheels or springs are employed, and as the pistons are wholly disconnected from each other, it is necessary that the live water should' be delivered to the pistons in such a manner thatlone piston will follow the other in all its movements. This delivery'of water is, by -\Vorthiiigtoi1, effected by means of diagonally-crossed water-passages, and although, as suggested in the specification of his Letters Patent before referred to, it may be possible to dispense with the diagonal ports and his slide-valves, by substituting therefor a system of levers, it is obvions that theless operative mechanism an accurately-measnring fluid-meter contains the greater its practical value.

In my meter the live water is delivered to the valves in a manner substantially as in the W or thin gton meter, but I have devised'an entirely different system of water-passages, and it is owing to this novel system of passages that I am enabled to attain an important saving in the tirstcost of the apparatus. Instead of diagonal water-passages, which, in casting, require dry-sand cores, mine are all straight, parallel with eachother and with the pistoncylinders, and therefore the entire shell can be cast with green-sand cores and one portion of my invention consists in a shell for a piston-meter having water-passages, valveohambers,and piston-chambers, which are straight and parallel with each other. By reason of this peculiarity of construction I am enabled to cast my shell in counterparts from a single pattern one-half the length of the shell, and provide for a central peripherical induction and eduction passage communieating, respectively, with two of the .straight water-passages before referred to; and another feature of my invention consists in a piston-meter shell, having piston-cylinders, valve-chambers, and water-passages parallel with each other, cast in counterparts and connected by a transverse joint.

Aside from the economic advantages accruing from cast-ing such a shell,it will be seen that all the valve chambers and cylinders may be simultaneously boredV out and finished by a suitable special tool, or that, being simply straight work, they may be cheaply inished by ordinary tools; also, that the Water-passages may be readily smoothed out to secure an easy ow of fluid with a minimum of fric'- tion; also, that -the lateral 'valve-ports connecting the piston-cylinders with the valvechambers near their ends may be cheaply cut and finished by means of milling-tools; also, thatinternal ports and valve-slots, located midway in the water-passages and valve-chambers, may readily be cut into the central portion of the valve-chambers by milling-tools, before the two counterparts are united.

While all the chambers and passa-ges within the shell of my meter are circular, straight, and parallel with each other, I secure the same delivery to and discharge from the piston-cylinders as in Worthingtons meter, by connecting two of the water-passages with their respective valve-chambers by means of l which controls its fellowpiston.

e is5.olo

"recesses in the rear faces of the heads of the meter and another featureof4 my `invention consists in `the combination, with parallel pis ton cylinders, valve chambers, and waterpassages, of heads, which are recessed for connectingboth ends of two of the water-passages with the valvelcha'mbers, with Vwhich they respectively cgi-operate.` i i l In, the Worthington meter the slide-valves are actuated by contact therewith of iianges or arms on the pistonaod, Llocated` between two separate piston-heads, which operate as one piston, and all metersof this class involve When. ,haw

tons,1` employ a longitndinally-slotted recess,

centrally located in the periphery ,ofthe piston, having a length 4nearlyequal to the extent ofthe movementwhich the `piston makes in either `direction `before actuating 'the valve i Said` valve `is in an adjacent chamber, whichcomniunicates with the cylinder containing thepiston which.

actnates this valve by way of a slot parallel and coincident with the slotted recess in the the piston, and having such length astoibut little inorethan permit the valve to receive its correct travel by means of a studor pin, which `is fixed in `the valve, and projects through saidslot into 4,the recess of the piston, so that in its `movements `rto and fro the piston will move without moving the valve until the end ofthe recess strikes the stud, after which`both movetogether to the endof the stroke. `'.Lherecess in the piston is guarded against "the Apassage of water theretofrom eithersideofthe piston `by the packingsurface of the piston, which wholly surrounds it; and another feature of my invention consists ina ineterpiston having in its periphery a centrally-located longitudinal recess or slot foroperating aslide-valve. 4 i

It being importantthat this recess should be guarded to tliefullest possible extent, and although `by the centralslotted recess in ,the piston l guard it from water .ma the pistoncylinder, 1go still far-Sher, for preventing undue leakage by way of the valve-chamber. This Iaccomplish by providingpon theportion of the valve which overrides the slot in which the `valve-stud `is `located a packing-snrface, which extends beyondthe sides of the recess,

v and has a length of more than the length of the slot,`p1usthe travel ofthe valve, so that, "wherever the; valve maybe, there is ample :lavefthifvakiegauraa ,beyond @he Sides andends of Vthepinfslot,,to secure ma practically 4Vwater-tight joint; ,andl another feature of my invention 'consists in the combination, with a piston-cylinder, and a valve'chamber com lnunicating with the cylinder by a pin-slot, of a slide-valve, provided with a valve-surface, which invariably covers thepin slot.

As a .flat slide-valve is 1`1n b,alanced, and necessitates in its construction machine-work, which is not readily executed in a boring- -lathe, I employ cylindrical piston-valves; and

in order that these valves may be moved freely I employ those which are tubular and have open `ends; and although such valves are not new,pper se, one portion of my invention consists in the combination, with the pistons in a` piston-meter, of double piston-val ves, tubular in form, open at both.,ends, and having an independent `water-space betweenthe pistons, whereby the water-way `area leading to or from` the port islargely increased, andwhereby the valves in their inovementare `freed frcm end pressure, `which could ,notdie the case if they had `to1 move againsta column or body of water. The power for moving these valves is derivedfrom the pistons, which, in

each instance, engage with the end of a pin' which projects radiallyfrointhe middle ofthe valve, through a slot inthe valve chamberinto a longitudinal recess ,in ,the periphery of the piston. The alternate pressureofithe piston upon opposite sidesofthe pin, at `its end,`is conducive toa tilting `strain on the valve, which, unless 1provided for, would rapidly wear the pistons or heads of the valve and the sides `of the valve-chamber.

By one feature of my invention I obviate this tendency, by providing the stem of the valvewith a central bearing-surface opposite the valve-surface around the `pin before referredto. `This bearing-surlace is turned off to the radius of the valve, and, being opposite the pin, and of vconsiderable area,it operates as` a heaving face for preventing any undue tilting strain on the valve. Between these two surfaces, on each side of the valve, is a longitudinal space, and between the inner ends of each piston of the valve and these surfacesis an annular recess, all of which, when the valveis in its chamber, affords ample space for a water-passage,between the pistons of the valve.

For operating a registering apparatnsit is essential thattherebe some kind ofconnecting mechanism between the interior moving parts of the meter and `said exterior apparatus, and also that said connecting mechanism be operated with such joints as will prevent leakage. It lis obvious that packing,ordinarily considered, is conducive to friction, and that undue friction in,watermetersshould be avoided as far as is practicable.

One feature of my invention consists in the combination, with the piston of a water-m eter, of a register-operating shaft mounted within e a recessed head of the `meter upon a step, and

provided with an armor lever above the step.

within the meter for. connection with the piston, and an arm outside the meterffor connection with the registering apparatus. 'Ehe recess in the head a'ords a space within which the lower arm can vibrate when moved by the piston. The shaft has a long` bearingV which requiresno special packing, and. itl canl be therefore comparatively loosely ttedl and freel from undue friction. lts lower. end being mounted in4 a step, and the interior lever being mounted upon the shaft between the step. and the long bearing,.secure's an easy movement and obviates liability of the irregularwear of the shaft and its bearingwhich would be otherwise incident to the weight ot' the arm and the parts. connected thereto, and-to the onesided strain. thereon through the op eration ofthe piston and the actuating of the registering apparatus.

To more particularly describe my invention, Iv refer to the drawings, in which- Figure l, Sheet l, represents one of my meters in perspective. Fig. 2 represents the meter in end view with. its rear head detached. Figs. 3 and 4 represent, respectively, the inner faces of the two heads ot the meter detached. Fig. 5 represents, in. perspective, one-half of the shell ot' the meter, the same being a counterpart ot' the other half thereof. Fig. 6 represents, in perspective, one ofthe pistons detached. Fig. 7, Sheet 2, represents, in perspective, one ot' the valves detached. Fig. 8 represents the meter in longitudinal section on the diagonal line x, Fig. 2.

The shell ofthe meter is shown at A. 1t is composed of two counterparts, a and a, the point of connection between the two being midway between the twov ends of the shell. One of these parts is shown in Fig. 5. B and B denote the two measuring-cylinders, and() C the two valve-chambers,which contain valves for controlling the induction and eduction ot' water to and from said cylinders. D and D1 denote two induction water-passages con nect-A ed with each other by a peripherical duct, b, in the shell, which has an entrance at c for connection with any watersupply pipe. E and El denote two eduction water-passages, which are connected with each other by the peripherical duct d, and have an exit or discharge aperture at c for connection with a cock or other discharging device.

It will be seen that the measuring-cylinders, the valve-chambers, and the four water-passages are straight, circular, and parallel with each other; also, that the peripherical waterpassages b and d are at right angles thereto, and are formed by the duplicate annular recesses in the two counterparts.

Each part of the shell is only one-half' the length ofthe complete shell, and by reason of this short length, and the fact that the four circular Water-passages,.two valve-chambers, and two measuring-cylinders are parallel with each other, and the peripherical ducts being formed by the unitingof the two counterparts,

central slot is also-cut in like manner, as at k,

so that the two valve-chambers open into dit'- l'erent cylinders as-a means ot'- operative communication' between the valve and piston, as; will hereafter be described.,

'Ewo counterparts, having been properly faced oft', are placed end for end in close contact w-itheach other. The two halves ot' the inlet and` outlet ductsc and e are threaded externally to receive the nutsl g, which bind-theV two halves securely together. Interior threads are also provided for connection with a supply and a discharge pipe. The joint between the two halves is rendered water-tight by soft. Vhen thusunitedthe shell is treated as if a solid piecev solder or other suitable means.

oi' casting. The water-passages, if not sufficiently smooth, may be readily drilled, bored, or. reamed, and the valve-chambers and measuring-cylinders may be bored, as usual in such operations.

By using a. special tool, carrying four. boring-spindles, the valve-chambers and cylinders may be simultaneously finished, and to such a tool four additional spindles may be attached. for simultaneously boring out the water-passages, should it be necessary to perform that operation.

Each valve-chamber communicates at each end with its respective measuring-cylinder by lateral-ports, as shown at h and t'. (See Figs. 2 and 8.) These ports are cut by means ot' a :milling-tool, ot' a diameter suflciently small to enter the measuring-cylinder, and they have, therefore, a large area ot' opening in the cylinder, and a smaller area in the valve-chainbers-that is to say, these ports have straight sides, but are longitudinally enlarged within thevcylinder. I am, therefore, not only enabled to economically make these ports, but they are smoothly finished, and have the most favorable form for affording a free passage of fluid.

'Although the per-ipherical water-passages, communicatingv on each side with two of the straight passages, as shown, constitute the bestmeans, as I believe, for induction and eduction, it is yet possible to attain a portion of the substantial benefits of my invention, so far as economy is concerned, by employing the straight and parallel water passages,

valve-chambers, and piston-cylinders, without the peripherical ducts as, for instance, by substituting for said ducts short sections of pipei' 'with T-joints and elbows, and these may be" entered either at the middle of the straight chamber C is connected at each end with the ends of the eduetion water-passage El, and the recesses E2 in like manner connect valvechamber C with induction water-passage D. The head H has also a recess, t', hereafter fully described.

The valves being hollow, it of course follows that a single recess in each head will connect the proper water-passage with its valve-chamber, and be sufficient to secure operative results; but it is obviously preferable to employ the two recesses, because thereby the columns of water are shortened, and an equally direct induction of water to and eduction from both ends of the valve-chambers is aorded, which would not be the case if a single recess were employed.

lt will be seen by the parallel arrangement of the severa-l chambers in the shell that I am enabled to economize in metal, which is an iml'iortantpoint, as none but first-class steam metal should bc used in apparatus of this character if first-class results are desired.

The heads, when in position, are rlnly se cured to each other and to the shell by the four bolts q, each of which occupies the center of an induction or eduction water-passage,

, Vwhich are proportioned to receive them, and

also afford ample water-way. The two halves of the shell, although lwell secured toeach other by the nuts g, are also further secured by the bolts q, which clamp the shell between the two heads.

F and F denote the measuring-pistons. They are alikein form and dimensions. In order to secure an extensive packingsurface without requiring` such a close tit as to result in undue friction, and without unduly diminishingthe measnringcapacityofthe cylinders, I construetlny pistons with asingle web or head, surrounded'by a light 'cylindrical shell, which has a length considerably greater than the dis tance which the piston travels. Each is provided with a piston-stem, which projects ateaeh end slightly beyond the cylindrical portion, in orderthat on the completion ofeach movement of the piston the stem may abut against the inner face of the head, or against the packing covering said face, as at d. Each pistou is also provided with a longitudinal slot in its shell, as at l. In order to obvia-te undue weight in the piston, only one side thereof(ad jacent-to the slot) has an increased thickness, which is greater than the depth of the slot. This slot may be provided for in casting, or

cut with a slotting-tool entering from the open end. As this slot constitutes a portion of the means by which each piston is' connected with the valve which controls its fellow piston, and, as both ends of said slot are operative snrfaces, itis desirable that the location ot' these ends should be `accurately determined-that is, the slot shall be of a certain predetermined length. The Asolid end of the slot is finished by milling-tools, correctly adjusted to secure its proper location. The opposite end surface is provided bythe block m. The sides of the slot are slightly tapered, and the sides of the block m correspond thereto, so that it cannot advance beyond the proper point, A screw, as shown, secures it in position. After the slot has been cut, and the block m inserted and secured, the exterior of the piston is turned off, and properly finished.

At each end ot' the piston its shell is recessed adjacent `to the ports which colnmunicate with the valve-chambers, as shown in Fig. 6. In order to obviate the necessity of machining these recesses I cast the pistons with two recesses at each end, opposite each other,'so that any one piston may be used in either of the measuriiig-cylinders, and yet have one of its recesses at each end in proper position withrelation4 to each valve-chamber port. G and G denote the two sliding cylindrical va-lves, which occupy the valve-chambers O and C', respectively. They are precisely alike; and one ofthem is shown detached and in perspective in Fig. 7. They are preferably cast Vin one piece, and have a tubular stem, n, and a piston at each end, as at o. Each valve has a pin, as at p, which projects therefrom radially at a point midway of the length of the valve. This pin, in each instance, projects through the adjacent slot k, which extends from each valve-chamber into one of the measurng'cylind ers, andV loosely occupies the slot Zin the piston which actuates the valve. In ord er to guard this slot against the passage of Water from the valve-chamber the valve is provided at one'side with the packing-surface p1, in the center of which the pin p is located. This packing-surface has a greater width than that of the slot, and is longer than the slot plus the distance which the valve is moved in operation, so that at whatever point the valve may be the slot will be well guardedby the packilig-surface. Each valve has a bearing-face, as at p2, opposite the valve-surface 19, turned oi' to accurately tit thevalve-chamber. This bearing being opposite the pinp and the valve-surface p', and both surfaces being turned to the radius of the valve, the bearing-surface operates as a bcaringface in resisting the tendency to a tilting action of the valve, due to the contact of the meter-piston with the valve-pin; and it therefore greatly relieves the valve pistons and chambers from the liability to wear which would exist if the heaving-face were not em-` ployed. After the valve-chambers have been bored and the valves finished, the latter, withfontthe-pinsare 'inserted 'fin the chambers,

-the pin p. The valve' G, `which guards the actuated bythe piston d!" Eincylinder lB'.

-water may be entered thereto or discharged It is also to be remembered that two of the after which the fpins, v lhavin g threads thereon, lare inserted by entering fthem tlrrough lthe .slots lc. This having been accomplished, the- Iblocks m are removedi'rom Ithe pistonsfwhich are `then inserted in their frespective measurin g-cylinders, the open end-ot' theslotadmit :ting thepin to enter, andthe piston to occupy its proper position, after which lrthe Fblocks m are placed in the slots `and `securedby their screws.y The slots Il in the piston have a length equal to the stroke ofthe pistons minus the travel of the valves. plus the'diameter of.-

ports of measuring-cylinder B', is actuated by the piston .F in cylinder 5B, and valve` G', which controls -lthe ports of cylinder B,'-isv I will now describe the :operation -ot lth-ei meter -without .reference to any registering; apparatus, asall-of the'operative mechanism fhas already ibeen described in detail. Aflthough I have, for .thepurposcs of description, used the ,terms induction water-passages," and "eduction water-passages," it=is to befunl derstood that my meter will operate .-:eqnally well regardless of thedirection kin wvhich the.

therefrom. It is to.be remembered that the two heads of the meter close at their ends two diagonally-opposite waterpassages, those at D1 and E, the former being described as an induction-passage, and the latter as an eduction; also, that these two passages communicate centrally 4(see Fig. 5) with the valvecham hers respectively adjacent thereto at the annular space which surrounds the stem of the valve, between its heads or pistons o.

water passages are connected with the Valvechambers by means of the recesses in the meter-heads-that is to say, theinduction-passage D is connected by recesses E2 with valvechamber C, and the eduction-passage E1 is connected with valve chamber C' by recesses D'.` From this it will be seen that live water is conducted into cylinder B from lpassage D1 int'o valve-chamber C' between lthe heads of valve G', and thence alternately in-v to the cylinder whenever the valve approaches either end of the meter. On the other hand, live water is in like manner conducted into cylinder B1 from passage D, va the head recesses E2 through valve-chamber C, when either of the heads of valve G- have receded from either end of the meter sufficiently to uncover a valve-port. The eduction of water from the cylinders is made through the same ports.' Water from cylinder B' passes through. its ports into the annular space in valvechamber O surrounding valve G; thence by the central duct into the eductionpassage E the-nce from the meter. Water from cylinder B passes through its ports into valve-chamber C', thence by the head recesses D2 to passage E1, and thence from the meter. By having the valves tubular they .increaset'he Ewa:- `er-way area, and are `balanced and-move :freely, not having to overcomeior-move a :body of water, as would ibe ftheicase if they were solid.

When fthe partsareput together, asdescribed,

4.each piston fmakes acertain movement, dependent on the l.relative flengths -of the piswaterxrequisite l'forithe return movement .of

the rst piston, and :so /onas long as 4water iis allowed :to enter and :leave the meter. will beseen that the .columns :of :water within the -meter areall very short, and therefore such water-hammer as lisiordinarilyfdueto theloperation :of slide-valves in :connection with comparatively long columns of inelastic fluid is so .far reduced 4as to render ,my rmeter prac-ticallyenoiseless in soperationfeven aitga speed of about two hundred and sixteen two-inch strokes per minute of each two and one-fourthinch piston, and to this end the eXtreme accuracy attained by milling the ports also largely contributes.

The registering apparatus, considered as a whole, is shown at I. Its prime mover or ratchet is shown at w, and a pawl-bar at e, and detent at av.l Certain novelfeatures in the registering apparatus will constitute the subject of a separate application for Letters Patent.

The shafts is connected at its lower end with one of the pistons by an arm, t, which occupies the recess t' in the head and the link at u. The shaft s is housed in a long bearing formed in the head, and thisv obviates the necessity of special packing. It islmounted atits base in a step at s', and the arm tis mounted on the shaft above the ste-p, and below the lower end of the long bearing, and this prevents any undue lateral strain on the shaft, and the unequal wear of it and its bearing, which would be otherwise incident to the sidewise strain thereon, and due to the weight of the levers mounted on the shaft and the work performed by them.

Having thus described my invention, Iclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A piston-meter shell, provided with waterpassages, valve-chambers, and measuring or piston cylinders, which are cast in the shell, are straight and parallel with each other, and extend from one end ofthe shell to the other, substantially as described.

2. A piston-meter shell composed of two counterparts united at their ends, and having peripherical water passages, and water-passages,Y valve'chambers, and 4pistoircylinders which are straight and parallel with each other,

" lsubstantially as described.

3. 1n a piston-meter, the combination with Ythe piston-cylinders, their respective valvechambers, and the water}i assages, of heads, having recesses on their inner faces, which yconnect `the water-passages with 'the valve- Achambers, substantially as described.

4. A Water-meter piston. having in its periphery a centrally-located longitudinal slot or recess for receiving the pin of a slide-valve,

operated bythe piston, substantially as described. i

5. InA a piston-meter, the combination, wlth Va valve-chamber and piston-cylinder, con-` nected by means of a slot, of a slide-valve in the valve-chamber, provided with a pin which 4enters the piston-cylinder, and Va valve-surface which surrounds the pin and invariably covers the slot., substantially as described.

6. The combination, with the measuring-- one of the main or measuring pistons, and provided with a head at each end,`and an intermediate recess between the heads, substantially as described, whereby duid is admitted to or discharged from the measuring-cylinders through a valve-chamber and awater-passage over the heads ofthe valve, as well as between its heads and the valves relieved from end pressure, as set forth.

7. A cylindrical slide-valve for water-meters, provided with two heads, an intermediaterecess for a Water-way, a radial pin surrounded by a valve-surface, and a heaving or bearing face opposite the pin, substantially as described. A

8. In a piston water-meter, a shaft for connecting the piston with the registering appa-l ratus, which is mounted on a step and provided with an internal arm for connection with the piston, in combination with a bead for the meter which contains the bearing and the step for the shaft and a recess for the internal arm., substantially as described.

. HORACE L. ARNOLD. Witnesses:

F. L. CARPENTER, WM. E. GROVE. 

